How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 54
Well, technically, since Isaac had said he’d sleep in the next room while acting as my guard, calling Killis my first visitor was a bit of a stretch. But either way.
“Good news?”
I looked at Killis, who had come to see me early in the morning. It wasn’t often he visited outside of our lessons, and I was a bit surprised to see him so excited.
“Do you remember the matter you mentioned to Her Majesty during the banquet?”
The banquet?
“You mean about prunes?”
“Precisely.”
It was only a few days ago, so of course I hadn’t forgotten. Still, I was puzzled by Killis’s words. Could there really be good news already?
“I sent your proposal to the prune delegates, and they seem to have responded quite positively.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes?”
I only realized I’d let my thoughts slip after seeing the startled expression on Killis’s face.
It had caught me so off guard that I’d let my reaction show without meaning to…….
“Well, I wasn’t expecting much. There was quite a bit of opposition.”
“Understandably so…… Both Duke Futurum and Princess Meliana were quite vocal against it.”
Killis said, offering a sympathetic smile. I appreciated his understanding, but honestly, even without the objections from the Duke and Meliana, I hadn’t held out much hope. It was surprising that things were actually looking up.
“Still, the innovation in your proposal was undeniable, Your Highness. It’s often more productive to find practical uses than to give up entirely.”
“Thank you for seeing it that way. But, is it really alright to consider it a positive outcome after just a few days?”
“Yes. We received a response first from the central-northern region, the nearest. And personally, I think if the product were crafted as requested, the southern territories might also respond well. They favor bold flavors, after all.”
But isn’t it still too early to say?
“Let’s give it just a few more days. I’m certain we’ll see promising results, and Her Majesty Evgenia will be quite pleased as well.”
“That would be wonderful.”
I replied sincerely, watching Killis speak with such confidence. If this endeavor brought success, I had a feeling that Evgenia’s favor might increase—or perhaps even trigger a quest linked to her.
* * *
But the anticipated news didn’t come easily.
After three or four days had passed, I decided to set Killis’s encouraging report aside and focus on my daily routine.
Just as usual, I studied under Killis, and alternated between training in horseback riding and archery with Reno and Isaac. I also worked hard on the new quest I’d received, restoring my mana circuits.
In my spare moments, I visited the library to read a variety of books, but the information I uncovered was. Well, more enlightening about the items’ names than their actual uses.
From their names alone, I gathered that to obtain the Mermaid’s Tear, I would have to meet an actual mermaid, and that the Golden Branch of the World Tree could only be found in the Elven Sanctuary.
Apparently, you can’t just obtain them by going there, you need quite a bit of luck too…….
‘Still, I can’t just give up.’
This quest wasn’t only tied to Isaac’s favor, it also held the promise of giving me full control over magic. Having power would surely be better than being powerless for what lay ahead.
After several days of poring over various resources on different species in the library, it seemed that even Reno, who’d been observing nearby, had become curious. Leaning over my desk, he asked.
“Have you developed an interest in other species?”
“Yeah, I guess…… There are a lot of fascinating things.”
“What part interests you?”
“Things like the Mermaid’s Tear, or the Golden Branch of the World Tree.”
“Is there anything fascinating about them? They’re probably like Evgenia’s ring, aren’t they?”
……Sometimes, Reno’s cool-headed remarks had a way of cutting right to the point, despite his warm and accommodating appearance.
It was a reminder not to judge people by looks alone. Reno, Isaac—they were both prime examples of that.
A man who looks as if he wouldn’t bleed a drop even if you stabbed him—who would have guessed he was tormented by guilt and low self-esteem?
“By the way, Reno. I’m curious about something—would you mind if I asked?”
“What is it?”
“It’s something personal, so…… if it’s difficult to answer, you don’t have to.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. So, what are you curious about?”
